Wrench



P. N. KINAKIN July 30, 1968 mlvmvroa PAUL N- KINAKN MORNGYS United States Patent 3,394,623 WRENCH Paul N. Kinakin, 504 10th Ave., Kinnaird', British Columbia, Canada Filed Nov. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 597,385 Claims. (Cl. 81-55) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A socket wrench having a shaft slidably and rotatably extending through the wrench socket axially of the latter for non-rotatably fitting in a socket formed in the end of a bolt when the wrench socket is applied to a nut to be turned thereon. An operating handle is non-rotatably and slidably connected to the shaft to prevent the rotation of the latter while the wrench socket is operated to rotate the nut.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to a type of wrench wherein a bolt member and a nut threaded thereon may each be independently engaged by the wrench mechanism, and either one of them rotated relative to the other as desired.

It is appreciated that wrenches of this type have heretofore been devised. However, such wrenches have not, in the main, been entirely successful as they have not provided means whereby the bolt gripping portion of the mechanism is continually maintained in contact with the bolt during longitudinal movement of the nut relative to the shank of the bolt, and thereby permits accidental disengagement of the bolt engaging mechanism while the nut mechanism is still engaged with the nut.

The present invention provides a wrench of the latter type wherein the bolt engaging portion of the mechanism automatically adjusts itself relative to the nut engaging portion thereof so as to provide continued engagement of the nut and bolt, thereby eliminating the risk of any possible damage occurring to the nut and bolt during the operation of the wrench.

The present invention comprises a nut gripping socket, means including a handle for rotating the socket, an elongated bolt engaging member slidably and rotatably carried by the said means in coaxial relationship with and extending at one end into the socket, and an independent handle rotatably journalled on said means and having a slidable and non-rotatable connection with the bolt engaging member for controlling relative movement thereof.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIGURE 1 is a central sectional view of the tool illustrating its engagement with a nut and bolt,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a tool taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the tool taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a bolt engaging portion of the tool, and

FIGURE 5 is an isometric View of a portion of the nut engaging portion of the tool.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the wrench includes a first handle which is of elongated form having a broad flat sided head 11 at one end 12, and having a knurled portion 13 adjacent its other end 14 to form a handgrip.

A large diameter circular aperture 15 is formed in the head 11, said aperture opening outwardly of sides 17 and 18 of the latter. The walls of said aperture converge inwardly slightly adjacent side 17 to form an inwardly extending annular lip 19, the radially inner edge 20 of which is ground so as to present a true conical surface flaring outwardly towards side 18 of the head. The head 11 is also recessed to form a chamber 22 opening outwardly of side 18 and also into the aperture 15.

Rotatably fitting in the aperture 15 is an externally toothed driving member 23, said member having a conically ground surface 25 which fits the ground edge 20 of the lip 19.

From one side 26 of this member 23 projects an axially extending stud 27 having a non-circular cross sectional configuration, preferably square. The teeth 28 of the member 23 are longitudinally elongated and are triangular in shape having uniformly sloped side surfaces 29.

Through the stud 27 and member 23 extends an axial bore 32, said bore being countersunk at its end opening outwardly of side 18 to form a large diameter recess 30 having an annular bottom shoulder 31.

Located in the chamber 22 are a pair of pawls 33 and 34. These pawls are elongated rectangularly shaped pieces spaced apart on either side of the medial line of the medial line of the head, and have ends pivotally fitting in grooves 36 formed in the walls of said chamber 22.

Coil springs 37 and 38 are fitted under compression between the pawls 33 and 34, respectively, and the wall of the chamber 22 adjacent thereto so as to urge the pawls to pivotally move toward each other and into engagement with the teeth 28 of the member 23.

Slidably and rotatably extending through the bore 32 and recess 30 is a shaft 41 having a central cylindrical section 42 and squared end portions 43 and 44, the length of the shaft being such that the portions 43 and 44 extend outwardly of the stud 27 and the member 23. Fixed to the shaft and located between the end portion 44 and central section 42 is a disc-like flange 46 having a diameter slightly less than the recess 30 so as to be slidable longitudinally thereof.

Fitted over the aperture 15 and chamber 22 is a cover plate 48, said cover plate being secured to the head 11 by means of screws 50. This cover plate 48 is provided with a centrally located aperture 52 of larger diameter than the shaft 41, and which lies in registry with the bore 32. Fitted over the squared end portion 44 of the shaft 41 is a helical compression spring 54 extending under compression between the cover plate 48 and flange 46 of shaft 41 urging the flange against the shoulder 31, said spring 54 thereby yieldably resisting retractable movement of the shaft with respect to the member 23. The cover plate is also provided with an upstanding collar 55 in spaced concentric relationship with the aperture 52 therein, said collar having an inner annular wall 56 in which an annular groove 57 is machined.

Pivotally secured adjacent the undersurface of the cover plate 48 is a pawl operator 60. This pawl operator is wedge-shaped, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and has an operating pintle having an operating handle 63 aflixed thereto. This wedge-shaped pawl is swingably movable against either of the pawls 33 and 34 to move one of them at one time out of engagement with the member 23. This is clearly shown in FIGURE 2. As will be appreciated, depending on the position of the pawl operator 60, the member 23 may be secured against rotation relative to the head 11 in either direction while being permitted to freely rotate relative thereto in the oposite direction.

Rotatably fitting in the collar 55, is a cylindrical sleeve 65, the latter having an annular groove 66 formed therein adjacent one end 67, the grooves 66 and 57 being adapted to receive a snap ring 69.

The sleeve 65 is closed at its one end 67 by a thick plug 72, said plug being formed integrally with the sleeve and being provided with an axially extending passage 73 for fittedly and slidably receiving the squared end 42 of the shaft 41. The sleeve, between the plug 72 and its other end 74, has a preferably squared internal cross section adapted to slidably and fittedly receive a squared stud 76 pivotally connected to a handle 77. If desired, the stud 76 may be provided with a spring-urged balltype detent 79 for engagement with a suitably located hemispherical seat 80 formed in the sleeve.

It is intended that the tool shall be used in conjunction with a conventional socket 81 which slidably and nonrotatably fits over the stud 27, the latter also, if preferred, being provided with a spring-urged ball-type detent 90 for engagement with a suitable seat 91 formed in the socket 81.

In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated the type of nut and bolt assembly 93 with which, it is intended, the tool shall be used.

As is illustrated, the bolt 94 of assembly 93 has an axially elongated recess 95 opening outwardly of its end opposite its head end, the cross sectional configuration of said recess 95 being such as to have a slidable yet nonrotatable fit with the end portion 43 of the shaft 41 as hereinafter to be described.

In the use of the tool, the socket 81 is fitted over the nut of the nut and bolt combination 93 and the portion 43 of the shaft 41 slidably inserted into bolt recess 95. Pawl operator 60 is then positioned so as to place the head 11 and handle in right or left drive depending upon the direction in which it is intended to rotate the nut. By using both handles 10 and 77, the operator then may hold the bolt 94 stationary, while the nut is rotated thereon.

During the operation of the tool in loosening or tightening the nut which results in relative longitudinal movement of the nut and bolt, the shaft 41 is continually urged to seat itself firmly in the recess 95 by the action of the spring 54. However, this spring will permit the shaft to adjust itself longitudinally of the head 11 to compensate for the relative longitudinal movement of the nut on the bolt.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A wrench comprising a head, a handle connected to the head for rotating the latter, a rotatable member having an axial bore connected to the head for rotation therewith, a nut gripping socket, means for connecting the socket to the rotatable member coaxially thereof for rotation therewith, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably extending through the bore and having opposite elongated end portions projecting outwardly at either end thereof, one end portion extending partially into the socket and being shaped to non-rotatably engage a bolt and the other end portion having a cross sectional configuration other than circular, an independent handle journalled for rotation on the head and having a passage formed therein for slidably and non-rotatably receiving said other end portion of the shaft, and resilient means engaging the shaft and head for yieldably resisting retractable movement of the shaft relative to the socket.

2. A wrench comprising a head having an apertured cover plate, a handle connected to the head for rotating the latter, a rotatable member having an axial bore connected to the head for rotation therewith, said member being countersunk at one end of the bore to form a large diameter recess, a nut gripping socket, means for nonrotatably connecting the socket to the said member at the other end of and co-axially of the bore, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably extending through the bore and having opposite elongated end portions projecting outwardly at either end thereof, one end portion extending partially into the socket and being shaped to nonrotatably engage a bolt and the other end portion having a cross sectional configuration other than circular, an independent handle journalled for rotation on the cover plate and having a passage formed therein for slidably and non-rotatably receiving said other end of the shaft, and resilient means in the recess engaging the shaft and cover plate for yieldably resisting retractable movement of the shaft relative to the socket.

3. A wrench as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said end portions of the shaft each have a squared cross sectional configuration.

4. A wrench comprising a head having an apertured cover plate, a handle connected to the head for rotating the latter, a rotatable member having an axial bore connected to the head for rotation therewith, said member being countersunk at one end of the bore to form a large diameter recess, said recess having an annular bottom wall, a nut gripping socket, means for non-rotatably connecting the socket to the said member at the other end of and co-axially of the bore, an elongated shaft slidably and rotatably extending through the bore and having opposite elongated portions projecting outwardly at either end thereof, one end portion extending partially into the socket and being shaped to non-rotatably engage a bolt and the other end portion having a cross sectional configuration other than circular, an independent handle journalled for rotation on the cover plate and having a passage formed therein for slidably and non-rotatably receiving said other end of the shaft, and a coiled compression spring in the recess reacting against the cover plate and flange normally urging the latter into engagement with the bottom wall of the recess so as to yieldably resist retractable movement of the shaft relative to the socket.

5. A wrench comprising a rotatable member, socket engaging means connected to said member projecting laterally thereof, ratchet means surrounding the rotatable member operable selectively to rotate the member in either direction, a shaft slidably and rotatably extending through the socket engaging means and rotatable member at the center of rotation of the latter, a bolt engaging end of the shaft projecting outwardly beyond the socket engaging means, resilient means tending resiliently to urge the shaft outwardly relative to the member, and operating means including a sleeve journalled for rotation on the rotatable member through which the shaft slidably but non-rotatably extends, and a handle connected to the sleeve for rotating the shaft independently of the rotatable member while permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,319 12/1927 Brown 81--55 1,677,473 7/1928 Gast 81-55 X 2,007,432 7/1935 Mancuso 81-55 2,055,262 9/1936 Queen 8155 2,736,220 2/1956 Kamuk 81-55 2,752,809 7/1956 Lehmann 8l55 2,803,980 8/1957 VOge 8l62 JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner. 

